My rants about concealed carry holsters. What works, what doesn't and why.

Finding that "perfect" concealed carry holster is almost a never ending quest for individuals who carry concealed. Most people go through a series of holsters in a trial and error process trying to find the perfect combination of comfort and concealment.

In most cases, handgun owners end up with the proverbial "box of holsters" that end up sitting around without being used.

If you are searching for a battle tested holster design having a fit and complete that's second to none, then Bulman Gunleather might be 1 for you to appear at. Dependent in Newry, PA; this organization was founded by master holster maker Josh Bulman. Bulman's operation is really a totally made to order provider of gun holsters and shooting accessories.

Typically, most custom holster makers only produce a select few holster models so they can concentrate on building those models for various weapons. Bulman takes a little different approach as his company produces a number of different holster models for different needs. For example, he offers 9 different belt holster models and 10 different IWB holster models. Instead of taking a "one holster type" fits all approach, Josh believes that specific holster models are designed for specific uses.

Josh takes great pride in the quality of his goods and does some things that kind of set him apart from some other top level custom made holster makers. For instance, instead of using edge dressing or something comparable to finish off the outside edges of holsters or accessories, Bulman actually burnishes the edges with various waxes to seal them. Additionally, Bulman does outstanding job of boning the holsters for a fantastic and every item that leaves the shop. He also requires some steps that go just a little beyond what his competitors do. For instance, most holster makers seal the edges of the holster or mag carrier with a kind of sealant known as edge dressing. Bulman doesn't use edge dressing and prefers to seal the edges with multiple coats of wax using a technique known as burnishing.

Bulman produces a number of incredibly nice holster models in different configurations including OWB, IWB, paddle, and pocket. Having owned a number of Bulman models, my favorites are the THR (The High Ride), the QRH (Quick Release Holster), and the PDC (Professional Dual Clip).

Over the years, I've been surprised at the number of shooters who have never heard of Bulman Gunleather. In part, I suspect it has to do with the fact that Bulman is a recognized and known 1911 fan so he has a huge fan base in that market. Outside of the 1911 line, he isn't nearly as well known. However, I would never let that stop me from purchasing a Bulman holster. I own several and have never regretted a single Bulman purchase.

Few gun holsters have been as widely glamorized by various movies and TV shows as shoulder holsters. Shoulder holsters can be traced all the way back to the days of the old west as gunslingers and lawmen used them as a means of carrying a smaller or secondary handgun on their person. Historians that specialize in old west history have found evidence that a number of famous wild west personalities like Don Holiday and Bat Masterson were known to carry a shoulder holster at some point. Any information on shoulder holsters would be doing an injustice if no mention of Miami Vice was made. This 1980's television series brought a resurging popularity of shoulder holsters as a shoulder holster was worn by one of the main characters.

Shoulder holsters are designed to carry a handgun in a holster that is generally suspended under the armpit. Some of the newer generation shoulder holsters that are made for long barreled or scoped revolvers across the chest, although the harness itself is still worn over the shoulder. The harness itself is usually made of a single or double loop that rides over one or both shoulders. The harnesses come in several different configurations including a full harness, half harness, or executive harness. The full harness has dual harness loops so one loops over each shoulder. The half harness has a single harness that loops over one shoulder. The executive harness is really only designed to support smaller handguns. It features a single loop that doesn't fully go over the shoulder and connects to the belt.

For the most part, shoulder holsters come in three different variations:

Vertical carry - In this style, the holster itself rides vertically on the body. The muzzle of the handgun rides either straight up or straight down. In most cases, the muzzle rides in the downward position, but there are a select few models where the muzzle actually rides up towards the armpit. The models where the muzzle rides upward are generally restricted to small, short barrel revolvers like the S&W J frame series.

Horizontal carry - In horizontal carry, the pistol rides horizontally under the arm in a manner where the muzzle points backwards. This style will accept most semi-autos, but doesn't work well for a revolver with a barrel over 4" long. Out of all the shoulder holster models that are on the market today, this is the most popular.

Chest Holster - The chest holster is a variation of the traditional shoulder holster except that the holster is carried across the chest instead of under the arm. By moving the holster to the chest area, this model will fit large pistols with very long barrels or handguns that are equipped with optics.

Like any gun holster, shoulder holsters have good and bad points. While they are fairly comfortable and allow the wearer to comfortably carry a large frame handgun, shoulder holsters almost always require some type of cover garment to be concealed. Shoulder holsters rely on somewhat of a cross draw method so they aren't the fastest drawing holster.

If you are considering a shoulder holster, make your decision based on your actual needs and not the "cool" factor. I suspect that a great many people purchase shoulder holsters, only to find that they don't really work for their particular carrying situation.

Purse holsters are a big expense for many women. However, it's important to discover the "best" concealed carry bag for their demands, and not every lady will have the identical preferences. For example, some women will want to travel light so they will be using a very small pistol, most likely the equivalent of a pocket gun so they will need a small to mid-sized bag that looks like a nice purse. Other ladies may carry a larger handgun, but be far more concerned with the looks of the bag versus the function. In those circumstances, many women are worried that the concealed carry holster bags aren't really all that trendy and don't blend with what they would normally wear.

Almost all ladies seem satisfied if they can discover a nice CCW purse at a reasonable cost. Regrettably, CCW purses aren't all that economical and, in many cases, will cost far more than a comparably leather holster.